Five-time pro champ Booker T of Houston traded his wrestling briefs for a suit and tie, but he's still portraying a role on "WWE SmackDown," this time as the "general manager." In addition to traveling with WWE, Booker T runs a wrestling promotion and school in Houston. His new autobiography, "Booker T: From Prison To Promise: Life Before the Squared Circle," reveals his early life — from being orphaned at 13 to time in prison time for armed robbery. The WWE star — whose real name is Booker T. Huffman — took time to talk about his book and this weekend's anniversary show for his Reality of Wrestling promotion.

Q: Your autobiography, "From Prison To Promise," came out last year.

A: It's my life story about how I actually came up as a kid. For over 20 years people have been seeing me on television and gravitating to that character and wanting to be like that person not knowing what I went through to be that person. ... The book is about not giving up and not quitting and growing up and becoming a man.

Q: How does it feel to give back to upcoming wrestlers with ROW shows?

A: Reality of Wrestling — we were Pro Wrestling Alliance before for seven years — now we are celebrating our year anniversary March 9. It's been great to actually keep the dream of (wrestling promoter) Paul Boesch alive in Houston, Texas. I watched it growing up as a kid — the magic of wrestling on a weekly basis. And more importantly, I got to see what Paul Boesch did working with kids around the city ... and giving back.

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Now, I look at myself as the Paul Boesch of the 21st century and I hope to make him proud one day and keep wrestling alive in the city. Give those kids an opportunity to fulfill their dreams and not look back when they are 50 years old and say 'I wish I had a try at that when I had a chance.' I also have the Booker T Fights for Kids Foundation.

Q: Being the GM of "SmackDown" (7 p.m. Fridays on SyFy) you get to see a lot of action. Who are the young WWE stars you think can be the next big thing?

A: Everyone has got their eye on Dolph Ziggler. He's got all the in-ring tools and mic skills. I think he is a little too unselfish. I think that the thing that is going to get him over the top is to make himself look as good as he makes his opponents look out there. We got a kid by the name of Bo Dallas. He's a good looking kid; he's a baby face (like) Ricky Steamboat. I see can see him falling under that role one day. It's all about how much these guys are going to go out there and work on their craft — knowing their Shakespeare and "Romeo and Juliet."

A: I'm just as stupid at home as I am on television. I love making fun of myself and making my wife laugh as much as I possibly can by doing some of the stupidest things you could imagine like making up dances. Just making up stuff that would make the average, ordinary day light-hearted because that is what life is really about it, laughing every day.

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In a new Q-and-A series exclusively on HoustonChronicle.com, we will be featuring famous Houstonians and their fascinating work environments.

Booker T is the general manager of WWE Smackdown, but his office isn't a desk, it's a ring. We asked Booker T about what makes his job awesome and about some of his favorite things about Houston.

Q: Tell us about your workplace. What makes your position as GM of Smackdown unique and fun?

A: The amazing thing for me is still being part of what I've been doing for so many years and watch the young guys fulfill their destinies and see them become future hall of famers. I'm embracing this era and this stage of my life. I'm not being an in-ring performer and ** actually getting to see the growth of professional wrestling. And that is the fun part for me, being able to go and give back the knowledge to the young guys.

Q: While you're not on tour with WWE or working with Reality of Wrestling you are ...

A: Golf. I'm on the links trying to work on my golf game. I was on the Travelers Open Celebrity Pro-Am last year and I played with Michael Bolton and George McNeill and it was a great, great experience and I got some really good praise from the pros out there. I got to meet Bubba Watson and those guys. I'm hoping one day to be the first professional wrestler to become the first pro golfer.

Q: What is your favorite thing about Houston?

A: I've been all over the world to so many different counties and cities, but I always seem to find myself back to Houston. We got summer and somewhat winter. I like it like that. It is pretty much golf weather all year round in Houston.

Q: What is your favorite movie of all time?

A: Definitely Rambo [Rambo part 2]. "First Blood" was good, but when he came back military style in the jungle, definitely Rambo.

Q: If you could go back and wrestle any superstar you never got a chance to, whom would it be and why?

A: Junk Yard Dog. He was my favorite wrestler coming up as a kid because he was the first black wrestler to have his own cartoon, but more importantly he was huge here in Houston under Paul Boesch's guidance. I would have loved to tangle with the Junk Yard Dog just once.

Q: What do you have on your iPod that would surprise people?

A: I'm old school man, I like Tupac. You know most people probably wouldn't equate Booker T to be listening to Tupac, but he's kinda like my guide to this life even through his death.

Q: If there was a zombie apocalypse, what would be your weapon of choice?

A: Probably, a bazooka or something big!

Q: Favorite restaurant in Houston?

A: You know it is crazy, you can think about all the big places like Fogo de Chao or something like that, but my favorite spot to go to is Mambos. It is small, it's cheap, but it's real good.

Q: Favorite Houston sports team?

A: The Texans. I was team captain last year against the Baltimore Ravens, and we went out there and kicked their butts even though Ravens went on to win the Super Bowl. It was a great thing for me to go out there, being a kid who never played any sports, to come out of that tunnel and feel that adrenaline rush. That was one of my happiest days of my life.

Q: What does the average fan NOT know about Booker T?

A: I'm just as stupid at home as I am on television. I love making fun of myself and making my wife laugh as much as I possibly can by doing some of the stupidest things you could imagine like making up dances. Just making up stuff that would make the average, ordinary day light-hearted because that is what life is really about it, laughing every day.